Weather

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. -- When the weather report calls for freezing temperatures overnight, you do not want to be rushing outside in the dark to cover cold-sensitive plants.

According to University of Georgia experts, protect plants in containers either by placing them inside a protective structure (house, garage, greenhouse or shed) or by placing a protective covering over them.

“People put a lot of time and expense in caring for their plants,” states Menia Chester, Director of Fulton County Cooperative Extension. “It is important for them to know how to protect their investments to nurture them for growth when the weather is cold.”

Container plants are especially susceptible to cold temperatures; their roots are more exposed because they are above ground. Plants with roots that are damaged by cold temperatures may not show immediate signs of damage; these plants will show signs of stress when temperatures rise and the demand for water from the roots are greater.

(WXIA) -- The Georgia Department of Transportation is reminding north Georgia residents to be mindful of temperature drops and to turn off their sprinkler systems.

GDOT released this statement Wednesday morning:

Every winter, we have icing issues due to automatically-timed sprinkler systems left on overnight in freezing temperatures. They can create a very hazardous condition for motorists the next morning.

Automatic sprinkler systems are often timed to operate at night, and when spray from the sprinkler is blown onto the road or water drains onto the road, black ice is formed, creating a hazard for motorists.

The Department urges residents and businesses to take a moment and ensure that automatic sprinkler systems are turned off. With sub-freezing termperatures on the way, motorists are cautioned to be on the lookout for icy patches or black ice, especially early in the morning.

The Georgia Department of Transportation is asking homeowners to turn off sprinkler systems that are set to automatically run overnight.

"Every winter, we have icing issues due to automatically-timed sprinkler systems that are left on overnight in freezing temperatures," GDOT engineer Rachel Brown said in a statement. "They can create a very hazardous condition for motorists the next morning."

(WXIA) -- Severe Weather Awareness week began on Monday, and Georgia Emergency Management Agency has organized a campaign to help Georgians get ready for what storms could hit neighborhoods.

The campaign has been named Ready Georgia, and helps people prepare for the possibility of strong winds, tornadoes and flooding, a spokeswoman said. Even small things, like securing outdoor objects and getting rid of dead tree branches can make a difference.

According to the spokeswoman, Georgians may not realize how dangerous thunderstorms can be, because they are so common to local areas.